I suppose I could have chosen films set in the dead of winter to get some visual relief from the heat, but no I can wait for winter to set in first. I do gravitate toward beach movies or sea adventures when I want to cool off metaphorically. I love Lawrence of Arabia (1962), but it has too much sand. Jaws (1975) on the other hand can chill you to the core. Alone, on a sinking boat with a big shark giving me the eye is not exactly where I want to be, however.
My list includes two musicals I might have listed before, but the visuals alone make them memorable. At least four were filmed on the island of Kauai so that always works for me since that’s my favorite island.
South Pacific (1958): Dir Joshua Logan, with Mitzi Gaynor, Rossano Brazzi, John Kerr
On a South Pacific island during World War II, love blooms between a young nurse and a secretive Frenchman who’s being courted for a dangerous military mission. The cinematography alone brings me ever back to see the beaches of Kauai I have trod and swum over the years.
Some Like It Hot (1959): Dir Billy Wilder, with Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis
From the title some might be wondering, huh? Well the hot part is Marilyn so relax. And the Hotel Coronado, the beach, Marilyn in bathing suit and that dress so close to the one she wore singing Happy Birthday to President Kennedy. No wonder Tony’s glasses were fogged. Easily one of the best comedies of all time.
Point Break (1991): Dir Kathryn Bigelow, with Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves
An F.B.I. agent goes undercover to catch a gang of surfers who may be bank robbers. Great shots of Santa Monica and southern California’s surfer paradise come complete with an ominous, brooding score by Mark Isham that underlines the mood. Jumping out of plane sans chute is not recommended, but somehow it all works.
The Secret of Roan Inish (1994): Dir John Sayles, with Jeni Courtney, Eilene Colgan
Young Fiona lives with her grandparents in a small fishing village where she takes an active role to unravel its mysterious secrets. Roan Inish, in Gaelic means “island of the seals and here selkies do exist. A selkie is a seal that sheds its skin and emerges as a woman. Right, you have to Irish to believe that one, but Sayles’ movie makes it work.
Six Days, Seven Nights (1998): Dir Ivan Reitman with Harrison Ford, Anne Heche
Robin Monroe, a New York magazine editor, and the gruff pilot Quinn Harris must put aside their mutual dislike if they are to survive after crash landing on a deserted South Seas island. Views of the Na’Pali coast, Waimea Canyon and other locales are all in play here. The late Anne Heche does a wonderful comedic turn here in what would on paper seem an odd pairing with Ford. After crashing on a deserted island and then being chased by pirates and exhausted she says, “I’ve had just about all the vacation I can stand!”
Cast Away (2000): Dir Robert Zemeckis, with Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt
A FedEx executive undergoes a physical and emotional transformation after crash landing on a deserted island. Thank heavens he found a basketball to keep him company. Few actors other than Hanks could have kept us mesmerized as he tries to survive on a lonely island.
Blue Crush (2002): Dir John Stockwell, with Kate Bosworth, Michelle Rodriguez
For decades, movies about surfing and surfers treated their female characters as little more than bikini-clad window dressing. What makes this movie worth watching is how it refreshingly moves its women from the background to the foreground. This subtly feminist surfing adventure has Kate and Michelle as buddies working days at a hotel and evening hitting the surf. Great surfing scenes, but it also spins a good yarn and shows off Maui to boot.
Something’s Gotta Give (2003): Dir Nancy Myers, with Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Keanu Reeves
A swinger on the cusp of being a senior citizen with a taste for young women falls in love with an accomplished woman closer to his age. Set in the Hamptons if you like tony places. At one point Jack says, “I have never lied to you. I have always told you some version of the truth,” We nod knowing that Nicholson could have easily supplied that line. This is what happens when you have a heart attack, you lose all sense of proportion, but Diane and Jack are wonderful here. A repeat viewer.
Fool’s Gold (2008): Dir Andy Tennant, with Mathew McGonaughey, Kate Hudson
A new clue to the whereabouts of a lost treasure rekindles a married couple’s sense of adventure — and their estranged romance. The re-pairing of Mathew & Kate is not so good, stay for the beach and sea.
Mama Mia (2008): Dir Phillida Lloyd, with Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan
The story of a bride-to-be trying to find her real father told using hit songs by the popular 1970s group ABBA. Even if you didn’t like ABBA, and that really helps, the views of Greece in this lighthearted romp makes the time pass pleasantly.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008): Dir Nick Stoller, with Kirsten Bell, Jason Segel, Paul Rudd
Devastated Peter takes a Hawaiian vacation in order to deal with the recent break-up with his TV star girlfriend, Sarah. Little does he know, Sarah’s traveling to the same resort as her ex – and she’s bringing along her new boyfriend. If you can’t get enough of Kirsten Bell here, check out The Good Place. Also there’s an alert that the full Monty is employed here so be careful who you see this with.
The Perfect Getaway (2009): Dir David Twohy, with Milla Jovovich, Timothy Oliphant, Steve Zahn
Two pairs of lovers on a Hawaiian vacation discover that psychopaths are stalking and murdering tourists on the islands. On first viewing you might think the climax wasn’t set up, but you’d be wrong. I’ve been hiking the Kalalau trail on the Na’Pali coast but never found it quite this scary. The movie tracks much of the area I’ve been over for several years so it’s almost like home. Not so the characters in this well-crafted thriller.
Recent Comments